C.J. Senter may or may not be the next Tony Horton or the next Barry Sanders, but he is definitely the next 10-year-old to watch.

Granted, when most people hear “child prodigy,” they rightfully raise an eyebrow and wonder who is pulling the strings. Add a workout DVD by a fourth-grader with sculpted muscles to the mix and “cute” can turn to “concerning.” But it turns out the story behind “C.J. The Workout Kid” is a lot more inspiring than insidious.

C.J. started working out five years ago when his football coach told him and his teammates to go home over a weekend and get some exercise. He did some push-ups and sit-ups and loved it. Not too long after, he saw a P90X infomercial and loved that too. He’s been working out ever since. C.J. does his own routines three times a week, after school and homework, and he’s given new names to some old and boring moves, like the burpee, which involves a squat, push-up, and jump. C.J. calls that one the “shredder.” He even teaches a class of (mostly older) kids at the gym near where he lives in Locust Grove, Ga.

Disbelieving? So is Carlos Senter — C.J.’s dad. Carlos has spent most of his son’s life in shock, ever since C.J. somehow climbed out of his crib — at seven months old.

“It was two, three o’clock in the morning,” Carlos says, “and boom! My wife would go look in his room and here he comes, crawling out. He would go into the refrigerator, too.”

Carlos can’t quite figure out how his son got to be so fit. He says his relatives put on muscle easily, but not this easily. C.J. has an older brother and a younger sister who don’t really love sports as much. And Dad isn’t exactly chiseled like Terrell Owens. In fact, he admits C.J.’s work ethic has shamed him and his wife into getting into better shape.

“He doesn’t really eat candy,” Carlos says. “I have no idea why.”

And for that matter, Carlos has no idea why his son doesn’t have an attitude. “This kid will score a touchdown, take the football to the ref and act like nothing ever happened,” Carlos says. “If it was me, well, I probably would be a little different.”

But as much as the “Workout Kid” routine is working — C.J.’s DVDs are in so much demand that his dad hired a PR rep — Carlos says he gives most of the DVDs away for free and the primary objective is to help kids get off the couch.

C.J.’s primary objective has always been the same thing: make it to the NFL. He’s a running back and safety, modeling his game after another C.J. — Titans speed demon Chris Johnson.

C.J.’s already been named MVP for the state of Georgia as an 8-and-under, and last year he played in the 10-and-under group as a 9-year-old. Carlos says that the team run by former NFL running back Jamal Lewis expressed interest in having C.J. commute to Atlanta to join up, but the drive was simply too far.

High school coaches are already aware of C.J., but Carlos, who runs a local barber shop, insists on not looking too far ahead.

“As long as he’s happy,” Carlos says, “I’m happy.”

C.J. does seem happy, even though he’s a little bit tired of when kids come up to him at school and ask, “Are those your real muscles?”

The next generation of Atlanta prep football players is about to find out.

Comments Off on Meet The World’s Oldest Female Bodybuilder……. Ernestine Shepherd
Posted by docakilah on July 18, 2011

She may be a grandmother, but don’t call her old.

Ernestine Shepherd has impeccably toned ‘six-pack’ abs that are the marvel of her Baltimore fitness centre.

Her husband of 54 years, Collin Shepherd, says he ‘has trouble keeping guys away from her’.

The Shepherds live in Baltimore with their son, 53, and grandson, 14.

Ms Shepherd does some modelling and teaches fitness classes, and told the Washington Post, ‘If you are going to try to motivate people, you have to live that part’.

She also trains rigorously with Yohnnie Shambourger, 57, a former Mr Universe who won the gold medal in bodybuilding at the Pan American Games in 1995.

Seventy-four-year-old Ms Shepherd is the world’s oldest competitive bodybuilder and according to her, “Age ain’t nothing but a number.” You got that right, sister.

She doesn’t live in the fountain of youth, she lives in Baltimore. She didn’t get this body by taking an extreme knitting class either. She teaches a body sculpting class. And, no, she isn’t eating or drinking any concoction from late night infomercials that promise to shed weight and do your taxes at the same time. She maintains a strict diet of bland chicken, green beans, plain brown rice and egg whites.

Crazy thing is, Shepherd didn’t even start competing until she turned 57, inspired by a less than flattering experience involving a swimsuit and a dressing room. At that point, she and her older sister, Mildred, made a “pinkie swear” to take better care of their bodies. While her sister has since passed, Shepherd has gone on to complete nine marathons, win two bodybuilding contests and see herself listed in the 2010 and 2011 Guinness World Records as the oldest competitive female bodybuilder in the world.

Ernestine Shepherd turned 75 on June 16, 2011 and she is still going strong.

Take our quiz to find out how happy you really are with your life

The importance of being happy

“Happiness” is one of the main goals we set for ourselves. And for good reason! Not only does having a sense of joy and purpose enrich us emotionally, it also has a huge impact on our physical health, our ability to be productive and even how long we’ll live.

Our happiness quiz looks at what experts agree are areas of your life that are strongly linked to your sense of joy; they include relationships, spirituality and resilience.

For each question, choose an answer that best reflects your current attitudes or thoughts.

What are the keys to happiness?

Research into the traits, attitudes and lifestyle choices most associated with emotional and psychological health. Scientists identify five key compon­ents to the “happiness” equation:

1. Resilience to life’s challenges.

2. A healthy, active social life.

3. The ability to prevent or manage depression.

4. Embracing some form of spirituality or higher purpose.

5. Skill at defusing everyday stressors.

While being in an ongoing relationship isn’t one of the five variables, experts have proven that successful couples tend to be happier overall, in large part because loving companionship greatly helps each partner succeed in the five areas above.

Romance and love: Part 1

Answer the following if you are in a relationship:

1a. If our relationship were an object, it would be: a. A chili pepper—spicy, lively, intense. b. A quilt—warm, comforting. c. A railway—fast-moving trains by day; side by side, deep in sleep at night. d. A video game—push the button, a new battle starts.

2a. My partner and I could happily be stranded on a deserted island for: a. Years—we really do enjoy each other’s company that much. b. Weeks—we do love each other’s company, but in a short time we’d crave the other parts of our lives. c. Days—just long enough to have some laughs and have a few good talks. d. Hours—any longer and we’d be at each other’s throats.

3a. We have our own secret touches and phrases, and we use them: a. Every day, sometimes even in public. b. Occasionally, and always in private. c. Rarely—we did that stuff only at the beginning of our relationship. d. Never—and never will.

4a. When I talk to good friends about my significant other, I am: a. Enthusiastic, loving and supportive. b. Kind, generous, occasionally teasing. c. Rational and dispassionately descriptive. d. Surprisingly critical and uncomplimentary.5a. If I find myself attracted to another person, I would likely: a. Shut it right down—my current relationship is the one! b. Not take action, other than perhaps a brief fantasy about what might have occurred. c. Flirt. It’s harmless, isn’t it? d. Secretly pursue the relationship, wherever it goes.

Romance and love: Part 2

Answer these questions of you are not in a relationship:

1b. Love is: a. A beautiful, natural, enriching part of life. b. An oversimplified notion, but something to strive for. c. A fairy tale concept that, on rare occasion, can happen. d. A cruel hoax.2b. If I need someone to talk with: a. I have plenty of friends or family members I can call in an instant. b. I have a few friends in whom I can confide if I feel I really need it. c. I think [fill in the blank] might be open to it, if I asked… d. Open up to someone? It’s just not me.

3b. Past relationships that failed have taught me that: a. I always emerge wiser and better-prepared for the next one. b. Life is an unpredictable journey that takes you into all kinds of interesting situations. c. I should date less, trust less and pre-screen more. d. Most guys are creeps, and those who aren’t are already taken.

4b. My social life is: a. Absolutely great! I love my friends, and I love my time off. b. Mostly active and interesting, though somewhat predictable. c. Slow. I get out some, but more often than not, the TV is on. d. Blank. My couch is my best friend. 5b. If I’m home alone on a Saturday evening, I’ll be: a. Thrilled at the prospect of relaxing and doing exactly what I want. b. Fine with it. Just another ordinary evening. c. Stir-crazy somewhere around 10 p.m. d. Completely, thoroughly bummed out and frustrated with myself.

Spirituality and joy: Part 3

6. I feel that I have within me: a. The power to really improve the world. b. A general desire to do good things for those around me. c. A good moral compass, but no great need to touch the world. d. Zero desire to affect the world. Come on, it’s six billion people!

7. I would rate my spiritual life as: a. Thoroughly fulfilling. I have strong spirit­ual beliefs that benefit me every day. b. Passive but good. I have my beliefs, but they don’t play into my day-to-day life. c. Wanting. I want more purpose to my life; I want to believe in something bigger. d. Absent. I don’t believe in that stuff; I trust my brain to guide me.8. I consider my work to be: a. A wonderful gift that lets me do what I love every day. b. A reasonable and fair arrangement that, most days, is enjoyable. c. A duty I need to fulfill in order to enjoy the other parts of my life. d. A form of torture I endure for the money.

9. The last time I had a pleasant, non-work conversation of more than 10 minutes was: a. Today or yesterday. b. Three to seven days ago. c. Last week. d. More than two weeks ago.10. In a typical day, I laugh: a. All the time. I easily find the light side of things, even in dark times. b. Once every few hours. Life is busy, but I can lighten up easily enough. c. Rarely. It takes something really funny to crack my demeanour. d. Pretty much never. The way things are, what’s to laugh at?

Resilience: Part 4

11. I typically feel: a. Well rested, happy and ready to get going. b. I have a lot to do today. Take a deep breath, and let’s go! c. I wish it were Saturday. Please let it be Saturday. Damn. d. I’d do anything not to have to get up and go through another typical day.

12. When I go to sleep at night, I feel: a. Proud and satisfied with what I did today. b. Grateful that the work and activities are done for the day. c. Drained and spent—emotionally, physically, spiritually. d. Angry at the world, angry at myself.13. If I took a poll among my friends or co-workers, they would rate my attitude as: a. Happy, engaged, optimistic. b. Stable, even-keeled, in control. c. Worried, frustrated, pessimistic. d. Angry, defeated, overwhelmed.

14. When something really wonderful happens, I think: a. I absolutely deserve this, and there’s more to come. b. I’ll enjoy it now, knowing that it might not happen again. c. It only took, what, how many years? d. From here, it’s straight downhill.

15. If a new job didn’t work out well, I would think: a. Their loss! I’m great at what I do and someone else will benefit. b. I’m disappointed, but I’m sure I’ll find something else. c. This is really bad. How will I ever find another job? d. I’m a failure.

Everyday stress: Part 5

16. If a stranger did something really rude to me, I would: a. Brush it off; life’s too short to let strangers affect you. b. Get a little perturbed, but an hour later I’d have moved on. c. Get very perturbed, and still be talking about it tonight. d. Tear into him or her; no one is rude to me and gets away with it!17. If I do something embarrassing in public, I: a. Laugh it off, maybe even make a joke. We all do silly things at times. b. Get a little embarrassed, but recover quickly enough and move on. c. Turn five shades of red, and quickly try to escape the scene. d. End up in tears, thinking how foolish I am.

18. When I’m feeling really stressed, I: a. Turn to prayer, meditation, music or relaxation to calm me. b. Talk it out and learn to cope with it. c. Get upset and need help to calm down. d. Get angry and hurtful, to myself and to others.

19. I get angry: a. Almost never. Life’s too short to waste on such negative energy. b. Maybe once a week. It takes a serious provocation to get me started. c. Often. There’s a lot of stupidity out there. d. Regularly. I fall into anger naturally; it’s part of who I am.

20. I’m suddenly in a situation I really fear. My reaction is: a. Take a deep breath and deal with it; here’s a chance to beat this fear. b. I’ve got no choice but to get through this; it’ll be over soon. c. I hate this, I hate this, I hate this. Hey, it’s over! d. Run! Hide! Weep!

Scroll down the page to find out your score…………………………..

Scoring:

Give yourself 5 points for each (a) answer; 4 points for each (b) answer; 3 points for each (c) answer; and 1 point for each (d) answer. Now add up your scores; the lowest possible score is 20; the highest is 100. Here’s how to rate your score: 81-100: Congratulations! In the areas that experts say matter most, you have got life well under control and have the key elements required for a real, deep sense of happiness.61-80: You’re doing well, but there are some areas in your life that are hurting your emotional well-being. Look where you answered (c) or (d), and ask yourself, is this approach really serving me?

41-60: At best, you are coping with life. At worst, you could be burned out, depressed or angry. The first step is to acknowledge that your emotional health is not good. The second step is to get help. Breaking through tough times is easier with guidance.

20-40: With numbers like these, you’re not merely having a tough time. Seek professional help. You deserve to get happiness into your life; it’s what our natural state should be.

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DISCLAIMER

Nothing stated here should be considered as medical advice for dealing with a health problem. You should consult your health care professional for individual guidance for specific health problems. This blog is for informational, entertainment and educational purposes only, and is simply a collection of information in the public domain. Information conveyed herein is based on pharmacological and other records - both ancient and modern. No claims whatsoever can be made as to the specific benefits accruing from the use of any herb or nutrients.